Machine for bending automobile bumpers



Feb. 10. 1925.

J. F. BEANS ET AL MACHINE FOR BENDING AUTOMOBILE BUMPERS 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 I Filed Nov. 17, 1922 I IV I n I i.

Feb. 1.0. I 925.

J. F. BEANS ET AL MACHINE FOR BENDING AUTOMOBILE BUMPERS Filed Nov. 17. 1922 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 o w mi "N Fatented Feb. 16', 1925.

TES

JOHN F. BEANS, OF CANTON, AND ALONZO J. MERCIER, OF MASSILLON, OHIO, AS-

SIGNORS TO THE BEANS SPRING COMPANY, OF IYIASSILLON, OHIO, A CORPORATION OF OHIO.

MACHINE FOR BENDING AUTOMOBILE BUMPERS.

Application filed November 17, 1922. Serial No. 601,591.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that we, JOHN F. BEANS and ALoNzo J. Mnnornn, both citizens of the United States, residing at Canton, Stark County, Ohio, and Massillon, Starla County, Ohio, respectively, have invented a new and useful Machine for Bending Automobile Bumpers, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to a bending machine, and more particularly to a device designed to form a spring bumper from a bar of spring steel.

The objects of the invention are to provide a bending machine which will easily and readily form a bumper from a bar of spring steel; to complete the forming of the bumper in two bending operations; and to generally improve and simplify bending machines of this general character.

The above and other objects may be attained by constructing a machine, including a bending die, in which opposite end portions of the bar are bent laterally, and a pair of bending dies over which opposlte end portions of the bar are then bent upon themselves, by means of rollers upon swinging arms, to complete the formation of the bumper.

A practical embodiment of the invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which Figure 1 is a plan view showing the bar in initial position in the lateral bending die;

Fig. 2, a side elevation of the machine, showing the start of the second or longitudinal bending operation;

Fig. 3, a section on the line 3-3, Fig. 1, showing the completion of the second bending operation;

Fig. 4, a section on the line 4.-4c Fig. 1.

Fig. 5, a detailed side view of one of the swinging arms with the roller thereon, shown in section.

Fig. 6, a bottom plan view of one of the die blocks; and

Fig. 7, a detail View of the complete bumper formed upon the machine.

Similar numerals of reference indicate corresponding parts throughout the drawings.

The machine includes a table 1 of metal supported upon the legs 2, the lateral bending means comprising the stationary die 3, fixed upon the table near one side thereof and provided with the straight central portion 4 and the off-set straight end portions 5 connected to the central portion by the angular portions 6. Transversely disposed guiding lugs 7 are mounted upon the die 3 and arranged to guide the bar A, from which the bumper is formed, as shown at A, in Fig. 1.

The movable bending die 8 co-operates with the die Sand comprises the straight central portion 9, the angular portions 10, at each end thereof and the straight end portions 11.

This die is arranged to be reciprocated toward the die 3 to bend the bar A laterally into the shape shown in dotted lines at B, in Fig. 1. In order to prevent longitudinal movement of the bar during the bending operation, a pin may be dropped through the aperture C in the bar and through a similar opening in the table 1.

The reciprocation of the die 8 may be accomplished in any suitable manner, such as shown in Fig. 1, in which the die is connected to a toggle lever arrangement comprising the levers 12 and 13, the lever 12 being pivoted at one end to the die and the lever 13 pivoted at one end to the table 1, the other end of thetwo levers being pivotally connected together and to the link 14 which is pivotally connected at its other end to the rocker arm 15 upon the rocker shaft 16, which is arranged to be rocked by the operating handle 17. The die 8 is provided with the lugs 18, extending through the .slots 19 in the table. As shown in the drawings two sets of these levers are provided, one near each end portion of the die 8 and an operating handle 17 is provided at each end of the rocker shaft 16 in order that the same may be operated simultaneously from both ends in order to as sure an even movement of the die 8.

After the steel bar has been bent into the form shown in dotted lines at B, in Fig. 1, the lateral bending die is opened and the bar removed therefrom and placed in the position shown at C, in dotand dash lines in Fig. 1, the angular portions'of the bar engaging the angular vertical faces 20 of the in the position shown at F in 3,bend

ing the angular portion of the bar up against the under surface 26 of the die block, as shown at Gin Fig. 3, and back over the upper surface 27 thereof, as shown at H in said figure, forming the angular bends J upon the finished bumper, as shown in Fig. 7, the two free ends being brought together and riveted or otherwise connected as-at K, the angular loop formed at J, being as best shown in Fig. 3 tapered inwardly in order that the two longitudinal portions M and N of the bumper are spaced apart and located in the same plane.

It will, of course, be understood that in forming the bumper upon the machine, as above described, the tip-turned ends 0 are formed before the blank is placed upon the machine and the bar is heated near opposite ends at substantially the portions where the bend J 'is produced in the finished bumper.

We claim:

1. A. bending machine of the character described including atable, a block upon the table and provided with an inclined downwardly tapered portion spaced at its lower end from the table and arranged to receive a bar between the table and the tapered portion of the block, an arm pivoted upon the block and aroller upon the arm arranged to bend the end portion of the bar upward against the under surface of the inclined tapered portion and downward over the upper surface thereof.

2. A bending machine of the character described including a table, a block; upon the table and provided with an inclined downwardly tapered portion spaced at its lower end from the table and arranged to receive a bar between the table and the tapered portion of the block, an arm pivoted upon the block and a roller upon the arm arranged to bend the end portion of the bar upward against the under surface of the inclined tapered portion and downward over the upper surface thereof, the table having a cut-out portion adjacent to the block arranged to normally receive saidroller.

3. A bending machine of the character described, including a table, a block near each end thereof and provided with an inclined downwardly tapered portion spaced at its lower end from the table and arranged to receive a bar between the table and the tapered portions of the blocks, an arm pivoted upon each block and a roller upon each arm arranged to bend opposite end portions of the bar upward against the under surface of the inclined tapered portion and downward over the upper surface thereof, and the table having cut-out portions adjacent to the blocks arranged to-normally re- I ceive said rollers.

4. A bending machine of the character described, including a table, a block near each end thereofand provided with an inclined downwardly tapered portion spaced at its lower end from the table and arranged to receive a bar between the table-and the tapered port-ions of the blocks, an arm pivoted upon'each' block and a roller u aon each arm arranged to bend opposite end portions of the bar upward against the'under surface of the inclined tapered portion and downward over the upper surface thereof.

JOHN F. BEANS. ALONZO J. NEERGIER. 

